Background: In 2010, NYU launched the Innovation Venture Fund to increase the level of support for students, faculty and researchers in pursuit of entrepreneurial ventures. While investment capital can be the catalyst that transforms a new idea into an entrepreneurial venture, funding alone does not turn a discovery into a thriving startup. Though direct investment in startups is a key role for the Fund, it has also actively promoted and supported entrepreneurship across NYU via a variety of extracurricular programs, events and resources. In 2012, NYU created the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute to develop a more comprehensive pan-University entrepreneurial ecosystem to attract and support our students, faculty and research staff. The Institute is leading the creation of a network of programs, events, best practices and resources to inspire, educate, accelerate and connect entrepreneurs within NYU, as well as with the larger New York startup ecosystem. In September of 2014, the University took the next step in expanding NYU’s support of entrepreneurship with the creation of a new ~6,000 square foot pan-NYU Entrepreneurs Lab where aspiring entrepreneurs from across all NYU schools can come together to connect and collaborate on entrepreneurial ventures and other related initiatives. The Leslie eLab helps foster a strong entrepreneurship community at NYU, providing a living laboratory for nurturing promising ventures and connecting NYU entrepreneurs with both resources (EIRs, mentors, training and other programming) and with the broader New York City startup and venture capital communities. With the success of the NYUEI and Leslie eLab, NYU has recently been awarded a grant from the Blackstone Foundation to expand the offerings and its capacity to help members of the NYU community (students, faculty, staff, etc). This new effort is called the NYU Blackstone Launchpad (NYU BLP).
Overview: NYU is seeking to hire a full-time Manager to coordinate and participate in the rollout and ongoing implementation of the new NYU Blackstone Launchpad (BLP). The BLP Manager will contribute to the development, leadership, organization of the program and collection of critical data in support of key metrics. His/her responsibilities will include meeting with entrepreneurs (students/faculty/staff) in the NYU community to assess their needs and stage of development, building relationships with an external network of senior experienced mentors to help determine appropriates entrepreneur matches for them, plan and support events and programs bringing entrepreneurs together with the mentors and provide administrative support for BLP activities and events. He/she will report directly to the Director of the NYU BLP, and will work closely with all members of the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute staff.
Responsibilities: Duties include:
35% Serve as first point of contact for prospective entrepreneurs within the NYU community who are looking for mentorship and guidance and work with them determine the right path forward. Help identify appropriate mentors for each qualified entrepreneur, coordinate meetings between mentors and entrepreneurs then record feedback and results. Manage and support specific NYU BLP events in developing a strong community of external mentors, including defining scope, executing logistics, and ensuring operations are on schedule, on budget, and meeting objectives. Manage vendors, contracts, and agreements. Coordinate publicity and equipment needs as necessary.
30% The NYU BLP Manager will coordinate and help create an external network of people to help coach, advise, and mentor startups/entrepreneurs emerging within the NYU community. They will ensure there are clear policies, criteria and events in place to attract and facilitate productive relationships between the senior experienced mentors with members of the community from across the University. In addition, he/she will collect and integrate feedback from the NYU community and the mentors on an ongoing basis to improve existing offerings and create new programs and events to meet the needs of NYU’s students, faculty, and researchers.
15% Act as a liaison and prepare required reporting/communications to the various committees setup in support of the BLP grant as well as with other school and University offices, students, and faculty, organizations overseeing high-visibility projects as needed.
10% Support the NYUEI’s marketing, communication and branding efforts as they pertain to the BLP. Write, edit and manage content related to programming and events that occur as part of the NYU BLP.
10% Provide other assistance to the BLP Director and team as needed including responsibilities such as managing calendars, travel arrangements and expense reports.
Qualifications and Skills: All candidates must have:
• 4-6 years’ relevant experience or an equivalent combination
• Experience designing and implementing entrepreneurship programs and events, preferably in a higher education environment
• Experience planning and implementing administrative activities and event planning, preferably in a higher education environment
• Familiarity with best-practices in entrepreneurship education and programming
• Ability to market programs, solve problems and interact with individuals at all levels
• Strong proficiency with word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, customer service and organizational skills
• Quick learner, keen attention to detail and ability to perform multiple tasks in a fast-paced, high-profile environment
• Bachelor’s degree
Start Date: November 2015
Availability: Full-time
Apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume to Andy Moss, Director NYU BLP at
Andy.Moss@nyu.edu.
